Yesterday, Roba urged Noor of the Economic Freedom Party to join hands with him to address the numerous challenges the county faced.

"Time has come for us to put our political differences aside and focus on developing our county. We need to focus our energies on confronting that many challenges facing Mandera," said Roba.

"That is why I am taking this opportunity to extend an olive branch to my worthy opponent and brother Hassan Noor Hassan, asking him to join us in making Mandera prosperous."

At the same time, the governor took a swipe at the Garre Council of Elders, who he accused of peddling an outdated and "undemocratic" formula of picking leaders.

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The elders had asked Roba not to defend his seat in favour of Noor, who they had fronted as the governor's replacement.

Roba successfully led a rebellion against the powerful council of elders, which had also asked 20 other leaders not to defend their seats in respect of a model meant to ensure leadership was rotational.